ENEMIES IN DISGUISE!

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17, KJV)

To divide means to separate into parts and offences in the above context is to attack. To attack the authority or doctrines of the church.

The Urhobo’s have a proverb that says “ti agogo ti halleluyah, olieda kali churchi” meaning the ringing of bells and shouting of halleluyah does not prevent witches from coming to church.

When Apostle Paul wrote the above passage, he certainly knew there are those who come to church to cause problems and divisions. Most painfully today, those who we sometimes look up to as leaders are same people who cause problems in church. I once spoke with a minister of a particular denomination and all he did was castigate the same ministry where he ministers and did not see anything good about the ministry, yet would not leave. At the end of the day he entangled himself by saying they always transferred him from wherever he is posted and I simply told him to check himself.

From the reading above, Paul did not say we should be enemies with those who cause divisions or offences, he said we should avoid them and to avoid means to keep away from them. And in verse 19, Apostle Paul said

“… I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”

Paul did not only say to avoid them, he said we should hold firm to the doctrine we have received.

The Bible refers to those who causes such divisions and offences as adversaries and the chief adversary is the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy; John 10:10.

If then they are adversaries, then it follows that they are those who do not want the progress of others, even in church.

Psalms 1 spells out 3 categories of adversaries we find in church today; the ungodly, sinners and the scornful. It also admonishes us not to mingle with them.

It is written, strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

Therefore every alien entity in disguise in the church just to steal the blessing of others, I decree, may they be disgraced out in Jesus mighty name!

It is well!

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